Country women's abortion hurdle

A LACK of services in the country and doubts about privacy are
forcing some women to travel hundreds of kilometres to have an
abortion.

A study of more than 1200 women in Victoria has found that
almost one in 10 travelled more than 100 kilometres to have an
abortion in Melbourne.

In findings that will be closely watched by the State
Government, which is conducting its own investigation into access
to abortion for women in the country, three women in the study
reported travelling more than 400 kilometres.

Teenagers were more likely to travel far for an abortion - 18
per cent travelled more than 100 kilometres, compared to 8 per cent
of women overall. And 14 per cent of Victorian women travelled from
country areas, according to the study, published in today's
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.

The study was conducted and funded by La Trobe University. One
of the authors, Carolyn Nickson, now a research fellow at the Key
Centre for Women's Health in Society at Melbourne University, said
the fact that more teenagers travelled long distances suggested
that country services might be particularly inaccessible for
them.

The Age believes that some regional centres with a
conservative population won't perform abortions for ideological
reasons.

More than 1000 women responded to a survey in eight private
clinics in Melbourne, between November 2002 and June 2003.

"No clinic or doctor in my area will do the procedure," said one
woman in the study. "I'm from a country town, where it's hard to
get the procedure done," said another.

"Country towns are too small. Everyone knows your business,"
another woman said, while another said her regional service "won't
do the procedure unless life-threatening".

"Women in country areas with unwanted pregnancies can't wait
several months to access treatment," Ms Nickson said. "It's
particularly important we ensure transparent and equitable access
for all women."

The Government advisory committee investigating the issue is
expected to deliver its findings to Health Minister Bronwyn Pike
within months.

A spokesman for Ms Pike said: "Limited access to abortion
services in rural areas is of concern to the minister, which is why
she has asked the maternity services advisory committee to examine
the issue . . . this research will be useful in the committee's
deliberations."